The Senate has vehemently condemned the murder of an Igbo woman by Muslim fanatics in Kano State, and charged the Federal Government to ensure that the perpetrators do not escape prosecution.

The condemnation came Tuesday at the Senate’s plenary session presided over by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. The upper chamber charged Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, and other relevant agencies of government to ensure that the culprits are prosecuted.

Mrs. Bridget Agbahime was killed in a market in Kano last week Thursday after she was accused of of allegedly saying that Prophet Mohammed is not important.

During yesterday’s plenary session, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who represents Imo East Senatorial Constituency, raised a point of order on the killing, saying that government must ensure protection of lives and properties of all Nigerians.

While calling on the Senate to rise and condemn the act, he appreciated the Kano State Governor and the state’s Commissioner of Police for arresting some suspects, stressing that the culprits should be seen to have been prosecuted.

Anyanwu said: “Let me on behalf of the Senate express our condolences to the family and to the people of your constituency, the entire Enugu State and indeed the entire Nigerians. This is because every soul matters to us as Nigerians. The rate of killing in Nigeria is becoming very embarrassing.

“We must do everything as leaders to protect lives and properties of the citizens of this country. Every life matters to us so we cannot continue on the path of diminishing human life. It is the responsibility of security agencies to ensure that every Nigerian is protected wherever he lives.

“To ensure that this doesn’t happen again, every effort must be made to fish out those responsible so that they will face the full wrath of the law.

“We believe that this might be the last of this kind of incident anywhere in Nigeria.”

Anyanwu further said: “We do not want a situation where someone is detained today and, after a period of time, we would not hear about that matter again. The worst thing that could happen to a man is for his wife to be killed right before him.

“I think this Senate should rise and condemn this kind of act, we are one Nigeria and we all believe in one Nigeria and we want to respect our religious affiliations in this country. This country must be united. You would agree with me that the Igbo are the most liberalised people in Nigeria because we believe in one Nigeria; we live in every part of Nigeria.

“So I feel bad the way we are being treated. I think this Senate should rise and ask the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the culprits in this matter are brought to book.”